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Lieu vs. Loo vs. Lue
Due to its unusual Francophonic spelling, many people misspell lieu (which appears most often in the phrase in lieu of) as loo or lue. We even have evidence for people assuming the phrase is inlu of. It is, in fact, in lieu of. Lieu as a standalone noun means “place” and it’s now archaic. You can remember the spelling of lieu by using the mnemonic “lieu in everyday use.”
Examples of lieu in a Sentence
I have decided that in lieu of a going-away shower, those who wish to go in on a nice gift for her can see me after church.
—
Garrison Keillor, Leaving Home, 1989
Many of those pigs live here. Do they ever wonder why their masters walk upright in lieu of going on all-fours?
—Charles Dickens, American Notes for General Circulation, 1842
But when she read, and re-read with the closest attention, the particulars immediately following of Wickham's resigning all pretensions to the living, of his receiving, in lieu, so considerable a sum as three thousand pounds, again was she forced to hesitate.
—Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813
Garrison Keillor, Leaving Home, 1989
Many of those pigs live here. Do they ever wonder why their masters walk upright in lieu of going on all-fours?
—Charles Dickens, American Notes for General Circulation, 1842
But when she read, and re-read with the closest attention, the particulars immediately following of Wickham's resigning all pretensions to the living, of his receiving, in lieu, so considerable a sum as three thousand pounds, again was she forced to hesitate.
—Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813
Recent Examples on the Web
But many people without criminal records have also been arrested and deported, including children, who have been picked up along with or in lieu of their parents.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 28 July 2025
The smart play, many months ago, would’ve been to amend the All-Star Game policy to create flexibility, such as allowing the commissioner to levy a stiff fine, either to the player or a team, in lieu of a suspension.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 July 2025
The University of Texas System Board of Regents on Monday named interim President Jim Davis as the sole finalist in the presidential search for UT Austin, using an alternative process in lieu of a presidential search committee.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
In lieu of flowers, Kamran’s family has started a memorial scholarship fund for emerging designers.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for lieu
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Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 28 July 2025
The smart play, many months ago, would’ve been to amend the All-Star Game policy to create flexibility, such as allowing the commissioner to levy a stiff fine, either to the player or a team, in lieu of a suspension.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 July 2025
The University of Texas System Board of Regents on Monday named interim President Jim Davis as the sole finalist in the presidential search for UT Austin, using an alternative process in lieu of a presidential search committee.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
In lieu of flowers, Kamran’s family has started a memorial scholarship fund for emerging designers.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for lieu
Cite this Entry
“Lieu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lieu. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lieu
noun
archaic
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